The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-10

deal of facing the angry and indignant parents. But some vcngeful fate seemed to be logging his footsteps that day, for who should he run against quite suddenly and unexpect- edly on turning corner but the colo nel and his wife and Miss Mabel. Taken unawares and oppressed by guilty and craven spirit, he glanced at them falteringly, doubtingly, ncrv- ously, and hurried past before giving himself time to uncover. The Waugh ans evidently perceived him, for they showed signs of confusion. but none. alas ot recognition, and Tom pain fully realized that he had been cut dead.
 It was not until some hours later, after having wandered disconsolately along the seashore in the depths of frenzied melancholy and despair, with distinctly suicidal tendency, that poor Toms dropping spirits began faintly to revive from the recollection that, in his agitation, he had omitted te take of his hat to the Vsughans, Was it not possible that he was him. self to blame for what had occurred? Might they not have been affronted at his behavior and thus let him go by without recognition? The idea passed through the gloom of Toms depression like ray of sunshine through November fog, though its effect was, unhappily, hardly less evanescent. In his heart the poor tel low felt that the hope was wild and delusive, but still he clung to it, and lugged it through the dreary, wake tul night, and resolutely presented it as a shield against the incessant attacks of his dismal forebodings. As early the next morning as he could deccntly do so he presented himself at the Flagstaff Hotel to apologize, to ex- plain, to grovel in the dust, if neces- sary, at the feet of the colonel, though he had such dire misgivings of the re- suit of his mission that, sickening as the news was, it seemed almost re- lief to him to learn that the Vaughans had suddenly left bv the night train the previous evening.
 It was remarked by his hotel ac- quaintances that Tom was very much changed during the remainder of his stay at Southdore. His moods were uncertain, and alternated between the deepest depression and the most bois- terous hilarity. He became careless of his personal appearance, drank more than was good for him, and, in short, contrived to diminish very con- siderably the good impression he had labored to create. He was probably dimly conscious of this, for he cut short his visit, and returned to town somewhat abruptly.
 Tom had hitherto always found that getting back to business after the holidays lad a wholesome, sobering effect upon him, for the prosaic de- tails of his shop were inconsistent with romantic ideas. But, if he hap pened to forget Mabel Vaughan, he soon discovered that he might as well : have remained at Southdore for all the consolation the change brought him. There could be no doubt about 1t that he was deeply-nay, miserably- in love, for no other term could be fitly applied to 90 unpropitious an at tachmcnt. In London, somehow, the Vaughans seemed to Tom to be further away from him, more immeasurably removed from his sphere, SO to speak, than at Southdore. Nevertheless, he made wild resolves, in frantic mo- ments, to seek out Colonel Vaughan and Mabel at any cost, and might pos sibly have done so had he known their rI nnA fhnra thraa GoI1 mel Vaughans in the "Court Guide" and Tom shrank from the necessary inquiries while in his lucid intervals he stoutly and wisely determined to struggle with and overcome his infat- uation.
 Nearly two months had elapsed since his fatal meeting with Jack Brace before Tom happened to come across that volatile individual again. He naturally felt extremely awkward in regard to him, seeing that Jack had the right to say that he had behaved inhospitably to him at Southdorc. However, he at length met him acci- dentally one day, when Jacks friendly greeting manifested 80 forgiving a spirit that Tom ventured, not with out some trepidation, to ask for news of the Vaughans.
 "Haven't seen the colonel since that day down at Southdore," answered Jack, with his jolly laugh.
 "I'm afraid offended him some- how" said Tom, with affected indif- ference.
 "How was that?" asked Jack
 "Well, I met him just after parted from you that day, and-and he passed by without taking any notice of me, and the same evening he and his family suddenly left Southdore," ex nlainod Tom turning yery red in